A forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), Segun Kayode, testified before the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and some of his associates allegedly earmarked $600,000 to pay Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials and intermediaries.
Appearing as the first prosecution witness before Justice Darius Khobo, Kayode stated that $500,000 and $100,000 were set aside for the payments, backing his testimony with forensic audio recordings of conversations involving El-Rufai and suspected associates.
According to the witness, the recorded discussions focused on efforts to frustrate an EFCC probe into a company named Singularity, as well as plans to liquidate it in Nigeria and Mauritius, where the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit was also investigating it.
Kayode further alleged that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, another individual, and Bashir El-Rufai were mentioned in the conversations, with instructions given to meet one Ahmadu Sule for a template used previously to liquidate another firm. The recordings also allegedly detailed attempts to prevent the EFCC from investigating a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The proceedings lasted nearly eight hours, including two hours spent playing the audio recordings. Following the submission of Kayode’s findings as Exhibit One, defence counsel raised concerns about not receiving the document earlier, though Justice Khobo ruled that they could obtain a certified true copy for examination. The court subsequently adjourned the matter until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination, noting that the allegations against the former governor have yet to be established by the court.
